𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐏𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐇𝐞𝐫 𝐀𝐬𝐬𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐧

19⚚ Mine

Vencie POV:

"Do you think this is the secret they were talking about, Viraj?" asked Gaurav, following behind Viraj silently.

"Maybe. Or maybe not. I'm not sure about anything right now," Viraj replied in frustration, running a hand through his hair.

They hid behind a column as they spotted Vijendra exiting the queen's library. Only when he was completely out of sight did they step forward, both letting out a sigh of relief.

Viraj stopped in front of the ornate double doors of the queen's library and tilted his head. "Why didn't I see this place before in the library, bhai?" he asked, inspecting the intricate lock on the door.

Gaurav crossed his arms, his voice low and steady. "Nobody visits this place anymore, Vi. The queen held this library very close to her heart. When she found out she was pregnant with Amaira, she spent most of her time here."

"As per the rumors, this library was supposed to be Amaira's gift after the queen passed away. But after her death, it was shut down, and only the king has been known to use it sparingly."

Viraj nodded slowly, his mind racing. "How do we get the key?"

Gaurav sighed, gesturing toward the lock. "This isn't going to open with just a key, Vi. It either needs the king's fingerprint... or the princess's."

Viraj's eyes narrowed, and he straightened up. "Then come on. Let's bring her here."

Gaurav stared at him in disbelief, his voice incredulous. "Are you out of your mind, Vi? What are you going to tell her? 'Princess, your father is planning something, so I need your fingerprint to break into this library'? You're not thinking this through!"

Viraj nodded earnestly, missing the sarcasm. "Exactly. Why not?"

Gaurav smacked him on the head, shaking his own in exasperation. "She'd get you punished, you fool. She'd have our heads if we even tried. Right now, we can't risk involving her. The less she knows, the better."

Viraj grumbled, his eyes flicking back to the sealed library. He hated leaving questions unanswered. "Fine. But how long do you want to wait? What if we're missing something big, bhai?"

Gaurav stepped closer and placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "We'll figure this out. But for now, let's head back to the ball. If anyone notices we're missing, it'll raise suspicion."

"Bhai, I—" Viraj began but was quickly cut off.

"And one more thing. Don't breathe a word of this to anyone, not even Rithvik or Ash bhai, until we know what we're dealing with. Understand?"

Viraj groaned, reluctantly stepping back from the library. "Fine."

***

"You look so pretty, like a real-life Disney princess!" Ruhi squealed with delight.

"Of course she does!" Sneha chimed in, blowing on her freshly polished nails.

"She's my best friend's daughter, perfection runs in her blood." Amaira chuckled, shaking her head at the exaggerated praise while gazing at herself in the mirror.

She was dressed in an elegant black gown that flowed like liquid silk, hugging her waist delicately before cascading to the floor.

The back was cut low, revealing her smooth, glowing skin, while intricate lacework adorned the edges of the fabric, giving it a timeless charm.

Her mother's jewelry—a delicate necklace with tiny diamonds and emeralds—rested softly against her collarbone, adding a subtle sparkle to her ethereal look. Her hair was styled into soft waves, with a single lock framing her face, enhancing her natural beauty.